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MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – The Ohio men's basketball team (7-7, 1-1 MAC) closed out 2025 on the road on Tuesday (Dec. 30), defeating Central Michigan (4-10, 0-2 MAC), 80-64, inside McGurik Arena. 

Overall, Ohio shot 45 percent from the field, 20 percent from three and went 22-of-34 from the line, while CMU shot 41.4 percent from the field, 0-13 from three and went 16-of-23 from the line. Ohio out-rebounded CMU, 40-38 and dished out 18 assists to their nine. Ohio also forced 15 turnovers and scored 18 points off them. 

Individually, senior guard Jackson Paveletzke (Kimberly, Wis.) led the Bobcats with 23 points, going 6-of-11 from the field, 2-of-5 from three and 9-of-13 from the line, while grabbing seven rebounds and dishing out nine assists. Senior forward Aidan Hadaway (Lafayette, Ga.) scored 13 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and dished out six assists, while freshman guard JJ Kelly (Chambersburg, Pa.) recorded a career-high 15 points, going 7-of-10 from the line. Senior guard Ajay Sheldon (Dublin, Ohio) and redshirt junior forward Javan Simmons (Columbus, Ohio) both finished with 10 points. 

CMU took an early 4-0 lead before driving layups from Hadaway and Kelly gave Ohio the lead, however, back-to-back jumpers from CMU put the Chippewas up 8-5 headed into the first media timeout. After another layup from Kelly and free throws from senior guard Dior Conners (Columbus, Ohio) cut the deficit to one, CMU went on a 4-0 run to take a five-point lead with 11:10 remaining in the half. Out of the break, Ohio went on a 5-0 run before a three from Sheldon tied the game at 18-18. After CMU went up two, a free throw from the Bobcats cut the deficit to one entering the final media timeout. 

Out of the break, CMU went on to take a 24-19 lead before a three-point play from Paveletzke cut the deficit to two with 2:07 remaining. After free throws from Simmons tied the game up, a layup from Simmons gave the Bobcats the lead with a minute to go. After CMU tied the game up at 26-26, a three from Pavelatezke out Ohio up three, before CMU would tie the game up at 29-29 with 33 seconds to go. As time expired in the half, Ohio was able to get a basket to take a 31-29 lead into the half. 

At the half, Ohio shot 34.5 percent from the field, 14.3 percent from three and were 9-of-14 from the line, while CMU shot 37.9 percent from the field and were 7-of-9 from the line. Ohio out-rebounded CMU, 22-19 in the first half, while dishing out seven assists to CMU's three. 

After CMU tied the game up to open the second half, a 7-0 run from the Bobcats with baskets from Simmons and Hadaway out the Bobcats up seven early. After CMU stopped the run with free throws, back-to-back dunks from Kelly and Hadaway out the Bobcats up 42-33, forcing CMU to call a timeout with 16:59 remaining in the game. Out of the break, a three from Paveletzke gave the Bobcats a 45-33 lead with 15:46 remaining. 

Out of the break, a three-point play from Hadaway and a layup from redshirt senior forward Jalen Breath (Oklahoma City, Okla.) gave the Bobcats a 15-point lead. The teams traded baskets over the next few minutes, with the Bobcats taking a 52-39 lead into the under-12 media timeout. Out of the break, CMU went on a 6-1 run to cut the Ohio lead to 53-45, forcing Ohio to call a 30 second timeout. Immediately out of the break, Sheldon hit a three, stopping the run. 

The two teams traded free throws before CMU was able to cut the Ohio lead to nine. Baskets from both Hadaway and Paveletzke out the lead back up to 10, before a 6-2 run from Ohio gave the Bobcats a 73-56 lead going into the final media timeout. Out of the break, five points from Paveletzke and a layup from Kelly helped secure the 80-64 win for the Bobcats. 

Up next, the Bobcats head to Ypsilanti, Mich. to take on Eastern Michigan on Saturday, Jan. 3. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. ET inside the Gervin GameAbove Center and can be seen on ESPN+. 

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